wiseowl

In this case, I would use that currently hated phrase, slowly, slowly! We live in a town whose populace is somewhat indifferent to its football club. Having a stadium/ground is crucial. If you think it isn't, just have a look at what happened to Oldham rugby once they lost their ground (and I used to stand at Watersheddings with the other 4 or 5,000 supporters - that's now 4 or 500). So, it's an option, for sure but deffo one for the back burner. In reality, at present, the number one priority is quite simply to :- 1) Ascertain the owner's intentions/thoughts - i.e. is he open to "going" following the latest shitstorm of his making? The answer to that then dictates future actions e.g. is he willing to sell the club, can we tie up the purchase of the club with the land/stand etc. in order to simplify matters going forward. This needs some proper co-ordination, hence my constant pleas to the Trust. Once they arrange a meeting for fans, things may become clearer.

GlossopLatic - I think I understand what you are alluding to. My friendly advice is to drop it now on a forum like this. Exceedingly dangerous territory legal wise. Both for you, the site owners and anyone else who starts speculating. As fans, we should concentrate on what we can do best.

Agreed but with a caveat. I met formally with Simon Brooke and Diane Mellor of the Trust (probably a couple of years ago now) when concerns were rife around Simon Corney. I said then that they should unhinge themselves from the club and become independent - it was the only way they could address issues of concern properly and the fans would unite behind them. Until they do that, they risk remaining impotent. Their 3% shareholding is, in fact, nothing but a millstone around their neck. I did consider setting up a separate independent supporters' group then, but decided not to upset the status quo and, instead, arranged a meeting with Simon Coney which a few of us off here attended. We did get answers to initial questions and were starting to make progress. Personal abuse and downright lies (one Latics' fan told people I was a friend of Corney's and had been on a sponsored walk with him!! - utter bullshit) led to me eventually throwing in the towel. My point though is this; it took me hours of initial negotiation and pre-meets with S Corney and M Moisley to arrange the meeting with fans - why did the Trust not undertake that? Surely they were in a better position? So, inertia has often been a problem and I wonder why. I realise there have been some changes in Trust personnel - this time, they really do need to step up to the plate and show they are capable of uniting the fans and being a strong, effective voice.

"FIT AND PROPER - YOU'RE HAVING A LAUGH" (also to be sang non stop at every game). I look forward to the Trust mobilising everyone together, so a strategy can be put into place. My personal fear is that the usual apathy kicks in and this peters out after Wildy gets a couple of wins. That won't address the fundamental underlying issue.

I sincerely hope the insinuation here is not true. If it is, then I`ve also lost all trust in the Trust. Trust rep anywhere - answer to Lee Sinnott's question please?

Definitely not renewing my season ticket. Will still support Latics though i.e. pay on the day as and when I feel like it or when sanity returns. If sanity (whatever form that takes) returns relatively quickly, then it'll cost me a few quid (because I`ll attend every home game as usual and it will cost me far more.) For me, though, it is far more important to send my own little message to the owner that I am not some fool to be messed about and treated like a cash cow. I think if enough people took a similar view, it might just influence him in a positive way (i.e. will fan power finally make him realise that, if he's staying, to keep well away from team affairs and player recruitment?). As others have said, no more ancillary spending for me now at matches either - I usually spend about 20 quid a match on overpriced bottled beer and pies - no more until we are on an even keel.

Don't worry mcfluff - I`ve been doing mine in a plastic bag to take with me on Saturday and it's in the fridge - so no risk of scolding your daughter.

Thank you underdog - appreciate the update and general sentiments

Very true, Monty - when you think about it, it's crazy! I was just so annoyed at the lack of communication about some very obvious things that needed rectifying I thought - why not? If nothing else I thought it may may them sit up and take notice that fans are not simply "cash cows" to be milked. Even our loyalty has its limits - as we are now witnessing unfortunately.

.... "Feck off, no.... we are the Fans' Front of Oldham Athletic (FFOOA) and we sit in silence at matches" ... "Wenkers.... you should join the real extremeists... the Popular Fans' Front of Oldham Athletic (PFFOOA) - we scream abuse at matches and throw tennis balls on the pitch." A hark back to an old Monty Python film but so very true i.e. in times like this we must stand as one. Understandably, people are angry and there are a whole host of ideas floating about regarding protests etc. The Trust have put their support behind the one for this Saturday - and that's understandable given short timescales. In my view, if the Trust do not act very quickly, then the inevitable splinter groups will form; as they always do in the absence of one banner to unite under. Fans divided will achieve far less than the fans united. Everything does not have to be unhinged at once (and indeed cannot) but the Trust should make a statement of intent that it is going to separate out from the current club regime at the earliest opportunity and morph into a genuine, strong and independent supprters' group. It's always been "proud" of its 3% shareholding - many people have refused to become involved because of its 3% shareholding i.e. suspecting deference to the owner rather than being a challenging and influencing force for the fans. Can I please ask if the Trust are planning to separate out in such a way? It would not be the end of the Trust - this is the opportunity for a fresh start and to finally be able to represent all the fans in what is, undoubtedly, yet another pivotal point in our club's history. We do not need to "wait and see" any longer, the circumstantial evidence of what is going on is simply overwhelming.

Any employment solicitor would advise someone to "keep quiet" in a situation like this BP. The financial penalties around slander (spoken word) and libel (written word) can be eye watering. Presently, you may have the owner's lawyers looking into breach of contract etc. on Scholes' part. It's the world we live in now unfortunately; the truth very rarely comes out for fear of saying just one thing that may not be factual. Regarding season ticket, it's ironic but I had emailed the owner, via the club, on Wednesday expressing my concerns and that I would not be renewing unless there was an official communication that a) there would be a mass clearout of the playing staff b) the pitch would be sorted and c) funds made available to PS for recruitment in the summer (the sort of thing PS should have had in writing before taking the job tbh!). Latics is in my blood and it will hurt not to renew - but I`m not doing now. I would rather sit it out and pay on the day if/when some sanity returns.

This is how crazy our situation has become, in my opinion. Ignoring the complete and utter mess we are in for one minute, I think we would be better off without a manager for the rest of the season - not even a caretaker. Let Clarkey do the leading on the pitch and let players express themselves and see what happens - they might just surprise us. I know someone will have to pick the side etc. but again, let Clarkey do that - other than that, no managerial duties and see how they go - could they possibly do any worse than one win in seven anyway?

excellent - and I will support in any way I can - see you at Saturday's protest

Underdog, the Trust risks seriously losing all credibility amongst fans if it doesn't take swift and decisive action after this latest calamity. Please remember, it's not too long ago the Trust was reporting on what a decent fellow our new owner was in comparison to the previous one "a refreshing, open approach" etc. I remember thinking at the time "Am I the only one who thinks? - hang about - this guy's just presided over our relegation to the 4th bloody division" I kept quiet, thinking that people better positioned than me (e.g. the Trust) must be correct as they saw the day to day mechanics of the club. We`ve all witnessed the decline and we are now as bad as we have been since the days of applying for re-election to the league. We are far worse off than we were under the previous owner - certainly in terms of playing staff, league position etc. I`ve stated my case on another thread so I won't keep repeating - but one last time - you have one chance here to retain credibibility amongst a lot of supporters - split off from this current regime ASAP and become an independent voice we can all unite behind.

the practicalities need thinking about though - I`m quite happy to throw my free scarf and this season's season ticket on the pitch - but I`m in the Main Stand and I`ll never be able to launch it past the paddock and onto the pitch - so won't the effect be rather lack lustre?

Trust Oldham - there comes a time when you simply have to "do the right thing". It's obvious to a blind man with a stick that that time is now. You should immediately break ties with the club and become a powerful independent supporters' initiative - because boy are we going to need solidarity as fans going forward. Your "position" on the board is worthless - as is the shareholding in all honesty. If/when the shit really hits the fan, Trust Oldham, in its present guise, will be impotent despite all the pretence over the years that Trust Oldham holds some kind of position as "potential saviour". Send the strongest message to our owner that we have had enough of being treated like idiots. It's OUR football club and we all need to gather under one banner and prepare to fight a long war. I`m honestly not having a go - you have an opportunity now to do something really useful - but only by severing ties with a club in serious decline. We need a strong, INDEPENDENT supporters' trust.

This is definitely no time for jokes. It is the time for direct action. My suggestion would be for everyone to meet on Rochdale Road (under the Civic Centre/Queen Elizabeth Hall bit that protrudes over the pavement) 1.30pm before Saturday's game. Hopefully hundreds of us (should really be thousands) would then march down to the ground displaying appropriate placards. A peaceful but noisy demonstration outside the ground and then, once inside EVERYONE IN THE CROWD should stay silent for the whole game (even if we score) - silence is extremely powerful. On 80 minutes (so at least you've got your money's worth) EVERYONE WALK OUT and then another noisy demo in an appropriate place outside the ground. This would, in my opinion, be a peaceful demo but send a very powerful message to the owner. Then repeat at every home game remaining. P.S. Trust Oldham should, in my opinion, "walk away" from the club/Lemsagam and stand in solidarity with the fans it is supposed to represent. I know there will have to be legals done etc regarding shareholding but they should immediately make a statement to the club saying they are having nothing more to do with this shambles - all fans need to stand together and firm here - we cannot afford splinter groups as there are not enough of us (particularly fans willing to take direct action).

Seriously, this is no laughing matter. We need a properly organised fans' protest. Gather at the civic centre before Tranmere - walk down to the ground in our hundreds - and then EVERY fan at the ground BE COMPLETELY SILENT throughout the whole match (even if we score) - silence is exceedingly powerful. As many protest banners as possible. Something has to be done before we go into oblivion. It's crazy, because I only sent an email to the club yesterday expressing my fears and the fact I was considering not renewing my season ticket. I want to give my club essential funding via my season ticket BUT is it worth it any more?